The THAAD system was tested successfully again yesterday. That extends missile defense’s near-perfect testing record since the system was deployed in December 2002. This seems like a good occasion to update the testing chronology:
- March 17, 2009: THAAD test successful.
- December 5, 2008: GBMD test successful (but countermeasures failed to deploy).
- June 25, 2008: THAAD test successful.
- November 19, 2008: Japanese Aegis/SM-3 test unsuccessful.
- November 1, 2008: Aegis/SM-3 dual target test mixed (one target intercepted, one not).
- September 17, 2007: THAAD test aborted (target missile failed).
- Jun 5, 2008: Aegis/SM-2 test successful.
- Dec 17 2007: Japanese Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Dec 4, 2007: NCADE test successful.
- Nov 6, 2007: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Oct 27, 2007: THAAD test successful.
- Sep 28, 2007: GBMD test successful.
- Jun 22, 2007: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Apr 26, 2007: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Apr 6, 2007: THAAD test successful.
- Jan 27, 2007: THAAD test successful.
- Dec 7, 2006: Aegis/SM-3 test unsuccessful.
- Sep 1, 2006: GBMD test successful.
- Jul 12, 2006: THAAD test successful.
- Jun 22, 2006: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- May 24, 2006: Aegis/SM-2 test successful.
- Nov 17, 2005: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Sep 8, 2005: PAC-3 test successful.
- Feb 24, 2005: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Nov 18 2004: PAC-3 test successful.
- Sep 2, 2004: PAC-3 test successful.
- Mar 4, 2004: PAC-3 test successful.
- Dec 11, 2003: Aegis/SM-3 test successful.
- Jun 18, 2003: Aegis/SM-3 test unsuccessful.
The land- and air-based systems have a perfect record since December 2002. The four failures during that time are all of the Aegis/SM-3 system (against nine successes).
(Previous post. More background here.)
UPDATE: Another successful Aegis/SM-3 test on July 31, 2009.
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